Cooling/recovering system for the cooling of facilities

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a system that is functionally associated with a refrigeration unit ( 1 ), said system comprising a primary tank ( 6 ) for the inflow of the water to be treated, and an inner tank ( 7 ) for cooling and mixing the water. Said tank ( 7 ) contains an exchanger ( 13 ) through which the liquid gas from the refrigeration unit ( 1 ) is passed, at the same time as the water entering the primary tank ( 6 ) accesses the cooling and mixing tank ( 7 ) from the primary tank, said cooling and mixing tank comprising water suction tubes ( 23 ) that converge in a three-way valve ( 25 ) connected to a water recirculation pump ( 15 ) via which the water is driven inside the exchanger ( 13 ). The treated water leaves via an outflow line ( 27 ).

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cooling/recovering system for thecooling of facilities, specifically, for hospitals and other placeswhere there is a need for healthcare sanitization in order to preventand control legionellosis.

The object of the invention is to achieve a high return in relation tothe energy consumption required for this type of system as well as amaximum output during its functioning and the possibility to install itwithout the need to deactivate the corresponding refrigeration unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is known, the refrigeration towers are used for healthcaresanitization in order to prevent and control legionellosis such that therefrigeration towers represent a focus for contagion of the fearedlegionella without disregarding other damage caused to the environment,such that only by means of a complete program of maintenance withsignificant costs, such damages are avoided, with the problemsintensifying if vigilance is reduced in said programs.

In any case, the sanitization programs are based on a hygienic/sanitaryprotocol for preventing and controlling legionellosis comprising basicactuations, clinical analyses and periodic cleaning using chemicalproducts which in one way or another impact the environment, or areprojected in microparticles together with colonies of bacteria and othermicrobes through the cooling fans or discharged together with the excesswater.

As a consequence of the evaporation, the concentration of dissolvedsalts in circulating water increases progressively during thefunctioning of the tower, producing alkaline or acidic chemicalcompounds which cause incrustations and corrosion of the facilities,shortening the service life of the same.

Taking into account that water is a scarce and expensive commodity,elevated consumption of the same, with a constant temperature of thewater used for condensation, causes, during the use of refrigerationtowers, an irregular functioning of the latter, as well as highconsumption which is prejudicial for the latter; thus if what waspreviously said was added to this, these refrigeration systems or towersbecome dangerous, expensive and largely unproductive.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The cooling/recovering system for the cooling of facilities which isenvisaged, has been conceived to resolve the previously expressedproblem in such a way that the same forms, together with therefrigeration unit, a single system or assembly provided forsubstituting the classic refrigeration towers, achieving in one singleassembly both a saving of water, at a constant working temperature aswell as a better use of energy and absolute environmental safety.

More specifically, the refrigeration/cooling system, according to theinvention, is provided to be associated with a conventionalrefrigeration unit, the system per se comprising said two tanks, onedesignated the primary tank which the water to be treated directlyaccesses and another designated as a cooling and mixing tank for thewater from both the general piping previously mentioned or from theinflow in the primary tank, such as that which is achieved by means ofsupplying a liquid gas from the refrigeration unit.

The primary tank is annular and has an inflow of water from piping wherea temperature thermometer for the water and a flowmeter for measuringthe flow rate have been provided as well as a manometer and atemperature control probe.

This primary tank has, in proximity to its upper part, an outflow ofwater to the cooling and mixing tank, a tank which is situatedconcentrically to the former tank and includes an exchanger, throughwhich liquid gas from the refrigeration unit is made to flow, alsoincluding a water inflow line to the exchanger and a coolant gas outflowline implemented in said exchanger, this cooling and mixing tank alsoincluding suction tubes, one upper and one lower, for the water, tubeswhich converge externally in a three-way valve, connected to acirculation pump by way of which the water suctioned is driven from thecooling and mixing tank and made to pass through the exchanger, exitingthe latter in the form of liquid gas to be resent once again to therefrigeration unit.

Inside the mentioned cooling and mixing tank there exists in the lowerpart a tube for the outflow of treated water as well as an outflow ofwater which passes through the exchanger.

A water condensation circulation line has also been provided between theoutflow for treated water and the inflow for water to be treated, all ofwhich is complemented by valves, manometers, thermometers and othercontrol means for the correct functioning of the system.

The materials used in the system are based on galvanized steel treatedwith polyester powder and dried at a high temperature, having anexterior structure based on removable panels isolated with noisereducing sheets.

Viscoelastic, flexible materials having an elevated weight and high lossfactor are also used, on the one hand cushioning the vibration platesand reducing their sound radiation and on the other hand increasing thesound isolation with light constructions.

The exchanger is constituted based on soldered plates and the coolingunit is made of copper mechanically expanded into aluminum fins, havinga design suited to taking advantage of the greatest exposed surface,facilitating its cleaning and maintenance, duly protected againstexternal damage.

In terms of the fans of said refrigeration unit, they are axial fanswith a rotary or centrifugal extractor, according to capacity.

Numerous advantages are derived from the cooling/recovering system whichis the object of the invention, the most significant of which can becited as follows:

-   -   It can be installed without the need to deactivate the existing        refrigeration unit, only very few hours being required to        incorporate or install the system.    -   The materials of the old facility are recyclable, after checking        the state of the same.    -   The functioning is in accordance with a closed circuit of water,        without chemical products or sanitization protocols or by        assumed control or specialized laboratory analysis.    -   It does not produce microparticle evaporations or projections,        avoiding all risk of contagion, with the result that the        emissions are completely zero.    -   It does not require the water to be replaced, which results in a        significant saving.    -   It does not produce residues which may cause corrosions or        reduce the service life of the assembly.    -   Higher return with respect to energy consumption, to using water        at a lower temperature, which achieves a greater output in the        functioning of the different components, lengthening the service        life, with less work and greater durability.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to complement the description which is going to be given belowand with the aim of aiding a better understanding of the characteristicsof the invention, in accordance with a preferred practical exemplaryembodiment of the same, one single drawing accompanies as an integralpart of said description, wherein the following is represented in anillustrative and non-limiting manner:

The single FIGURE shown on the drawing sheet referred to corresponds toa schematic representation of the cooling/recovering system associatedwith a refrigeration unit, all of which is implemented in accordancewith the object of the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

As may be seen in the FIGURE referred to, the cooling/recovering systemof the invention is provided to be associated with a refrigeration unit(1) associated with the respective electric circuit (2) and an exchange(3) of three-way valves.

In this refrigeration unit (1), the outflow line (4) for the liquid gasand the return line (5) converge.

In terms of the cooling/recovering system per se, the same comprises aprimary tank (6) which is annular and in the interior of which isestablished a secondary tank (7) as a cooling and mixing tank, in such away that water to be treated accesses the primary tank (6) by way of theline (8), preventing an air vent (9) at the inflow, having theparticularity that in this line (8) there is provided a thermometer (10)and a flowmeter (11) for the inflow water.

The water to be treated which accesses the primary tank (6) circulatesaccording to the direction indicated by the arrows, until reaching anoutflow (12) situated in proximity to the upper part of the same, by wayof which the water accesses the cooling and mixing tank (7), the latterincluding in its interior an exchanger (13) through which the liquid gasfrom the refrigeration system (1) is made to pass, by way of the line(4) in which an expansion valve (14) is provided, at the inflow of thetank (7), such that this liquid gas passes through the exchanger (13)and exits through the outflow (39) provided in proximity to the lowerpart of the tank (7).

At the same time, the water is made to pass through said exchanger (13)by means of driving force from a recirculation pump (15), accessing theexchanger (13) by way of the line (16) to pass through the exchanger(13) and exit through the return line (5) already mentioned. In the linewhere the recirculation pump (15) is situated, a temperature probe (17)for the water and an air vent (18) are provided, while in the outflowreturn line (5) of the exchanger (13), a probe (19) is provided whichmeasures the temperature of the coolant gas obtained on its passingthrough the exchanger (13).

On the other hand, and in the inflow line (16) to the exchanger (13) perse, a control thermometer (20) for the temperature is incorporated,while the cooling and mixing tank (7) is provided with a thermometer(21) for measuring the temperature in the lower part of the tank (7) anda thermometer (22) for measuring the temperature in the intermediatepart of the same tank (7).

A line (23) for extracting the water is also provided corresponding tothe upper part of the tank (7) and another line (24) for extracting thewater from the same tank (7) from the lower part of the same such thatboth lines (23 and 24), at the outflow of the tank (7), interconnect byway of a three-way valve (25) connected to the recirculation pump (15).In the lower part of the tank, there is provided a vacuum drain (26) aswell an outflow line (27) for the treated water. Furthermore, acirculation line (28) for condensed water is incorporated by way ofwhich the excess water required for cooling is supplied, said waterinflow being regulated by a three-way valve (29) in the intersectionbetween the inflow line (8) and the recirculation line (28) such thatupstream of this interconnection or three-way valve (29) there isprovided a pressure manometer (30) and a water flowmeter (31) as well asa temperature control probe (32). In the outflow line (27), there isprovided a water pressure manometer (33), a temperature controlthermometer (34) and a flowmeter (35), all of which to control the watertreated on its outflow from the tank (7), with the particularity that atthe outflow of the intersection between this outflow line (27) of thetreated water and the recirculation line (28) of the condensation water,a thermometer (36), a temperature probe (37) and a flowmeter (38) areincorporated.

By means of the cooling/recovering system described combined with therefrigeration unit (1), the advantages mentioned are achieved, such thatby way of example, it may be said that if a refrigeration towerfunctioning in a facility with a 252 KW capacity supplying 216,968freezers is changed, the system substituted and implemented according tothe invention would have a 84.1 KW potential with an equivalent of72,326 freezers, which logically translates into a considerable energysaving, having the same output with a consumption three times less thanthe original refrigeration facility or tower.

Said cooling/recovering system may also be used for supplanting awater/water cooler, using, to this end, a system with a potential 30%less than the supplanted system.

1. A cooling/recovering system for the cooling of facilities such ashospitals and other places where there is a need for healthcaresanitization in order to prevent and control legionellosis and whereinthe system per se is associated with a condensation refrigeration unit(1) for condensation, the system comprising two independent tanks, one aprimary tank for water to be condensed and the other a cooling andmixing tank for water coming from the primary tank and from the watercondensation obtained as liquid gas passes through an exchanger providedin said cooling and mixing tank; a recirculation pump being provided todrive the water by way of the exchanger, as well as an expansion valvearranged at the inflow of the liquid gas in the exchanger and comingfrom the condensation refrigeration unit, the latter being a receptaclein turn for gas vapor obtained in the exchanger as gas passes throughthe same.
 2. The cooling/recovering system for the cooling of facilitiesaccording to claim 1, wherein the primary tank is annular and has, in anupper area of the same, a water outflow to the cooling and mixing tankas well as a lower vacuum drain; with the particularity that in thewater line accessing said primary tank, there is incorporated a controlthermometer for the inflow temperature, a flowmeter for measuring theflow rate and an air vent.
 3. The cooling/recovering system for thecooling of facilities according to claim 1, wherein the cooling andmixing tank is arranged in the interior of the primary tank and inaddition to the exchanger, includes the inflow of water coming from theprimary tank which corresponds to the outflow of this primary tank, alsocomprising an expansion valve in the inflow line of liquid gas comingfrom the refrigeration unit; also being provided an outflow for thewater from the exchanger, a control thermometer for the temperature inthe lower part of the cooling and mixing tank, a temperature controlthermometer in the intermediate area of said cooling and mixing tank aswell as a water suction line in the upper part and a water suction linein the lower part, lastly including, in the lower part, an outflow linefor the treated water; also being provided in addition to the outflowline, it includes a pressure manometer, a thermometer and a flowmeterfor the treated water.
 4. The cooling/recovering system for the coolingof facilities according to claim 3, wherein the upper and lower suctionlines of the cooling and mixing tank converge externally in a three-wayvalve connected to the recirculation pump.
 5. The cooling/recoveringsystem for the cooling of facilities according to claim 1, whereinbetween the inflow line of the water to the primary tank and the outflowline of treated water in the cooling and mixing tank, there is provideda circulation line of condensed water for the required supply ofcondensation water for its cooling, said water circulation beingregulated by a three-way valve provided in the intersection between suchcirculation line and the general access line of water to the primarytank.
 6. The cooling/recovering system for the cooling of facilitiesaccording to claim 1, wherein both in the general inflow line and in thegeneral outflow line, upstream and downstream of the circulation line,there is provided a pressure manometer, a water flowmeter and atemperature control probe for the inflow of water, while the treatedwater in the line is controlled by means of a thermometer, a temperatureprobe and a flowmeter.